Steelers Place Pro Bowl Running Back Willie Parker on Reserve/Injured List; Re-Sign Running Back Verron Haynes

 

 

 

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers made two roster moves today in their offensive backfield after losing their Pro Bowl running back to a season-ending leg injury.

 

The team announced that two-time Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker has been placed on the Reserve/Injured List with a leg injury and will miss the team’s final regular-season game at Baltimore (Dec. 30) and the entire NFL playoffs. Parker suffered the injury in the Steelers’ Week 16 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

 

Parker was recently named to his second straight Pro Bowl after leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,316), rushing attempts (321) and 100-yard rushing games (8) before his injury. Parker joined Hall of Famer Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis as the only Steelers to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent out of North Carolina, Parker was named team MVP following last season.

 

Pittsburgh re-signed running back Verron Haynes to fill Parker’s place on the active roster. Haynes was released earlier this year during the Steelers’ final roster cuts of the preseason after spending his first five seasons with Pittsburgh. Drafted in the fifth round (166^th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Haynes was used primarily as a third-down back and on special teams.

 

 

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